I hunt a couple public access areas north of Madison. Been hunting this particular one for about twenty years. It is like home to me. I go there to hunt and also to wind down and relax.
In the past, once I put in the time and learned some of its secrets, I saw deer all the time, almost never a time where I didn't at least see something, even if not close enough for a shot opportunity.
Then we found CWD in the herd. The DNR has since created rules. I don't necessarily like them and I pout about them every chance I get, but they are the trained experts and I acknowledge that.
We have had quite a spell of unlimited free tags with an earn a buck slant for this area since that time.
Results are mixed.
Two years ago, I sat 13 evenings before I saw a doe. In many of those sits over the recent years I had nice, and some VERY nice bucks saunter past me. But, alas. . no buck tags for this boy.
It also resulted in nearly no competition during bow season and very little during gun season during the last two years. That was a real change. I guess everybody was smart but me (and moved on).
This year, for the first of many years, and I believe due to extreme pressure from the masses, the DNR relented and allows you to take a buck first in the CWD area, using your normal either sex tag, not the free CWD tag. Boy, I sure want to do my part, but with no does, it was sure a tough wait.
ChuckC
Topic: Look what I found in the woods the other night. (Read 1572 times)
